12. St. John’s: Chris Obekpa is averaging more blocks (5.1) than points (4.3).

13. South Florida: Well, that relevancy was fun while it lasted.

14. DePaul: Good news: Won’t finish worse than 12th in the new league.

15. Providence: A lightning strike would round out Friars’ misfortunes.

WHO’S HOT

The Catholic 7: In discussions with Fox for a fat TV deal that would prove there is indeed a strong appetite for college basketball programming (as there should be).

Guys Named Mike: Notre Dame’s Mike Brey’s team has won 12 straight (and the balmy weather can’t be comfortable in those mock turtlenecks). Rutgers’ Mike Rice is back from the deep after two impressive Big East wins. Syracuse guard Michael Carter-Williams lead the nation in assists (9.8) and the Big East in steals (3.2).

Nostalgic fans: Once again, it’s looking like the center of the hardwood universe (see By the Numbers). If this is the final year of the Big East as we know it, the league is going out with a bang. Enjoy it while you can.

WHO’S NOT

Doctors and trainers: They’ve been more involved than anyone would like so far, with injuries to four big stars (Gorgui Dieng, Chane Behanan, Vincent Council, Bryce Cotton) and plenty more key players (Seton Hall’s entire frontcourt).

Jim Burr: It’s just not the same now that Tim Higgins is retired, like Abbott cavorting about sans Costello.

The SEC: Got spanked by the Big East 13-4 in non-conference play. Yeah they’re great on the gridiron, but it’s a borderline mid-major league in hoops. Might as well hibernate until spring practice.

GAMES OF THE WEEK

Georgetown at St. John’s, Saturday at 11 a.m. (ESPN2): A classic rivalry resumes, and Georgetown (gasp) is winless in the Big East. First team to 40 wins. This is the 97th meeting. Hoyas have taken four straight in the series.

Cincinnati at Rutgers, Saturday at 8 p.m. (SNY): Biggest tilt on the banks since Gary Waters patrolled the bench. Bearcats, ranked No. 8 just two weeks ago, are desperate after dropping two straight.

Louisville at Connecticut, Monday at 7 p.m. (ESPN): If Louisville goes without gimpy forward Chane Behanan, this should be a battle in Hartford. Peyton Siva and Russ Smith vs. Shabazz Napier and Ryan Boatwright. Buckle up.

16 — Years since Rutgers had beaten St. John’s at Madison Square Garden prior to Wednesday’s 58-56 win there.

8.9 — Blocks per game by St. John’s, No. 1 in the nation.

6 — Straight weeks with at least five teams in the AP Top 25.

1 — The Big East’s ranking in conference RPI.

0 — Times Seton Hall has opened the upper-deck curtain since moving into The Rock five-and-half years ago. That will change for the Feb. 16 game against Syracuse—quite possibly the Orange’s final visit.

“Last night like all Big East games was a grind. It was nice having seniors step forward. Dane Miller and Austin Johnson provided a lift for us in the second half. Normally that’s what seniors do.”

“This team is still a work in progress but seems to be developing and figuring out to get out of its own way and becoming successful in this league.”

On his players handling prosperity: “We haven’t had a lot of conversations about that around here. Usually I’m building them up and keeping their energy level up. It really is how you handle success. People were shaking their heads around the Big East, ‘You’re just 2-1.’ Well this team hasn’t been 2-1 a whole lot. Having two of our next four games at home, how hard are you going to work to improve? We’re going to talk and have conversations individually with each guy, try to embrace getting better.

On the RAC: “It’s more of a gym feeling, where students and fans are right on you. Eighteen times out of the year I think it’s the best place in the country. Other times I would think it needs a lot of renovations to be done. But it’s a great feeling, an intimidating feeling for opponents coming in. Our guys feel comfortable there. If you’re going to be successful in this league you’ve got to protect your home court. We’ve had some success here, not consistently, but we’ve had some success against quality opponents. If you want to climb the ladder in the Big East you’ve got to protect your home. Our guys enjoy playing there, enjoy the intensity.”

KEVIN WILLARD:

“Proud of the way my guys played last night. Louisville is a terrific team. Got worn down with their size as the game goes on, had some turnover slate. We battled.”

On Fuquan dealing with defensive attention: “It’s a learning process for him. It’s not going to happen overnight. Last night was really his first taste of being a marked man. They kept Russ on him the whole time, didn’t let him go around. If we can get healthy we can get going back up and down the court a little bit and that will loosen things up. He’s been playing pretty well, he had 21 against Notre Dame. Last night was tough because they’re a good team and they did a really good job on him.”

On practicing short-handed: “We’re getting close to being back to normalcy. We went two-week stretch where we only had seven bodies and we couldn’t lose another guy or we had had no chance of winning any games. We’re trying to figure it out. The big thing is keeping Eugene fresh and keeping our guards sharp. It’s a tough balancing act right now.”

“For the most part I’m starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Oliver will be back after Marquette. Aaron Geramipoor can start practicing now . . . Aaron’s limited to spot minutes for the next week or two. Once we have a bye week after Marquette everyone should be back, knock on wood.”

“The biggest thing when you’re all banged up is you’re asking kids who are not used to doing certain things to do new things. That’s when guys don’t play well . . . We’ve been very careful trying not to go too crazy trying doing different things. If anything we’ve made it a little simpler and simplified the game plans. We have two or three guys now as it is who are playing two or three different positions.”

On how it wears you down: “You saw it last night. Brandon Mobley has a great first half but because he’s not getting any breathers he wears down and becomes ineffective. It’s been a little crazy but that’s part of sports. I think we’ve dealt with it pretty well.”

PROVIDENCE’S ED COOLEY:

“Last night was the first time I saw the pieces mesh in…We’ve gone through a lot of personnel changes.”

On the status of injured guards Vincent Council (hamstring) and Bryce Cotton (knee): “Cotton’s knee has really swelled up with a lot of fluid….Vincent didn’t practice for seven weeks—he did no running. His hamstring is about 70, 75 percent right now.”

On dealing with a rash of injuries: “You have to be positive in your approach. You can’t get down . . . Kevin (Willard) is doing a tremendous job with his group.”

“We’ve played with just five scholarship guys in a game. We played the first semester with six scholarship guys. But our players have been resilient.”

ST. JOHN’S STEVE LAVIN

“Youngest team I’ve ever coached. They’re learning college basketball 101 at the highest level. We’re a couple of possessions away from being 3-0. Instead we’re 1-2 and that’s life in the Big East.”

On the low-scoring, grinding nature of the games: “Some of these games it looks like Lombardi and Halas are coaching on the frozen tundra.”

UCONN’S KEVIN OLLIE:

On the contract extension: “Of course is takes a question off the table that a lot of parents and a lot of players and whoever is involved in the recruitment is going to ask, ‘Is the coach going to be there?’ Now I can saw without a shadow of a doubt, ‘I am going to be here.’”

LOUISVILLE’S RICK PITINO

On why winning on the road in the Big East is easier than in other leagues: “The refereeing is very strong. You have veteran officials and the crowd does not get to them. They’re not intimidated by coaches.”

“You also play in very large venues. They’re not all band boxes. We play in a lot of pro arenas and (fans) are not as close to the court where the crowd has an influence on the game.”